United Technologies merger settlement approved

WASHINGTON (AP) – A federal judge has approved a settlement in which United Technologies Corp. will sell some of its assets as part of its $18.4 billion purchase of aerospace-parts maker Goodrich Corp., the largest merger in aircraft industry history.

The settlement between Hartford, Conn., -based United Technologies and the Justice Department was approved Wednesday by U.S. District Court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Assets to be sold include those used in the production of electrical power systems and aircraft engine control systems.

Last year, the Justice Department had said the merger, as first structured, would combine the only two significant suppliers of large main engine generators for aircraft in the world _ resulting in higher prices, less favorable contractual terms and less innovation for several aircraft components.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)